Golden Suns cross country picked 7th082015_RC_ATU cross country_page 1B Just over two weeks from its first competition of the 2015 season, the Arkansas Tech women’s cross country team was selected seventh in the Great American Conference preseason poll. The Golden Suns earned 47 points in the survey of the league’s head coaches, falling in just behind the likes of Southeastern Oklahoma (54) and Southern Nazarene (58). Harding was predicted to defend its conference crown, garneri...

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ATU Athletic CommunicationsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Arkansas RB Jonathan Williams to miss regular seasonFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas coach Bret Bielema says running back Jonathan Williams will miss the regular season with the left foot injury he suffered during a scrimmage on Saturday. Williams' injury was announced on Sunday, with Bielema saying the senior would miss "an extended period of time." The coach now says the senior could possibly play in a bowl game this season, but he won't play during the regular season after having surgery t...

ATU football reports to fall practiceWith the opening of the 2015 Arkansas Tech football season just a few short weeks away, Wonder Boys head football coach Raymond Monica welcomed 105 players to campus this week for the opening of football practice. The Wonder Boys donned their helmets at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday for the first on-field practice of the season and will add helmets and shoulder pads on Saturday and Sunday’s practices. Tech will wear full gear for the first time on Mon...

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ATU Athletic CommunicationsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Freeman to play baseball for ATUGarrett Freeman got an unexpected opportunity through American Legion baseball. Freeman, who went unsigned after pitching for the Russellville Cyclones for three years, struck out 18 batters across eight innings during a Post 20 Patriots game against Cabot and drew the attention of Arkansas Tech University (ATU) head coach Dave Dawson. Dawson gave Freeman the chance to play for the Wonder Boys. "It means a lot to me," Freeman said. "I've been ...

Smith wins Texas Star National ChampionshipEULESS, Texas — Arkansas Tech University men’s golf team member Austin Smith posted a 54-hole total of 1-over par 211 to win the 2015 Collegiate Players Tour Texas Star National Championship on Thursday at Texas Star Golf Course. Smith shot 74-67-70 to win the event by six strokes over a field of 33 collegiate players from around the United States. The 3-under 67 he fired on day two matched the low round of the tournament. The Collegiate Playe...

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ATU Athletic CommunicationsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Lamar’s Haas plays in college summer leagueLAMAR — Tommy Haas arrived back in Lamar on July 28 after spending the summer playing 46 baseball games in Genesee, New York in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL), which is sponsored by Major League Baseball (MLB). Haas won’t be home for long. He will spend a few weeks with his family before heading back to the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (UAPB), where he plays for the Golden Lions. “It’s a little weird being back in Lamar,”...

Wonder Boys remember Zemaric HoltDemetris Ford struggled to talk about his friend Zemaric Holt — the pain was too close. Ford spent his Saturdays protecting the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys' end zone with Holt during football season. He spent his spring lifting weights with him. He spent his free time simply hanging out with him. "He was my best friend," Ford said. "If we each had 50 cents, we would put it together and buy a hamburger to share. We did everything together. We spe...

Golden Suns volleyball earns AVCA Academic AwardLEXINGTON, Ky. — The Arkansas Tech volleyball program was honored this week with an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award. The Golden Suns are one of six Great American Conference teams to be recognized. “As coach, I am extremely proud of this award,” Golden Suns head coach Kristy Bayer said. “This was one of our team goals this past year. We have many players in rigorous academic programs, on top of a tough travel...

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ATU Athletic CommunicationsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Trusty wins ASGA Jr. at Fianna HillsTHE COURIER / Submitted Danville’s Jay Trusty won the ASGA Jr. at Fianna Hills in the Boys 16-18 Division and overall recently in Fort Smith. Trusty won by seven strokes. Trusty is currently playing in the ASGA Jr. Match Play at Eagles Hill Golf and Country Club. Look for results in a future edition of The Courier.

Perry narrows focus, adjusts to campusMichael Perry could never pick which sport he loved more, basketball or football, but his dedication to his studies at Arkansas Tech University (ATU) made the decision at least a little easier. Perry signed dual NCAA Division II scholarships to play football and basketball with the Wonder Boys during his senior year at Pottsville High School but had to drop basketball due to the workload associated with his nursing major. “It was just too much...

Jones continues QB work at Lyon Cody Jones threw for more than 3,000 yards, broke two school records and tied another during his senior year as the Russellville Cyclones quarterback but did not record a single stat his freshman year at Lyon College. Jones, like the rest of the Scots, are rebuilding a football program that has been defunct since 1951. “It’s a unique situation,” Jones said. “But that has only made the bond between teammates even stronger. I’ve made a lot of re...

Two ATU anglers fish National ChampionshipSTEVENS POINT, Wis. — Evan Smith and Aaron Sarna will represent Arkansas Tech University (ATU) at the Carhartt BassMaster College Series National Championship today on Lake DuBay. The pair drove over 800 miles to reach the tournament, but their journey to qualify was even longer. The field of qualifiers is the largest in the history of the program, said B.A.S.S. College tournament manager Hank Weldon. The anglers represent 60 colleges and univ...

Former Razorback Tyler Spoon signs with Boston Red SoxFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Former University of Arkansas outfielder Tyler Spoon has signed a professional baseball contract with the Boston Red Sox. The university said Wednesday that Spoon signed after being selected in the 35th round of last month's Major League Baseball draft. He joins Razorback teammate Andrew Benintendi in the Boston organization after Benintendi signed Tuesday. Spoon hit .327 during the season with a team-leading 20 doubl...

New coaches, talented freshmen to add intrigue to SEC hoops Southeastern Conference basketball coaches are confident their league won't take a step back in the post-Billy Donovan era. Donovan left for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder in April after leading Florida to two national titles and four Final Four appearances in his 19-year tenure. Donovan was replaced by Louisiana Tech's Michael White, one of four new coaches in the league. The other newcomers are Tennessee's Rick Barnes, Mississippi State's B...

Arkansas' McLeod, Campbell win Jamaican championships FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — University of Arkansas track athletes Omar McLeod and Kemoy Campbell have won national championships in Jamaica while Sandi Morris finished second in her event at the U.S. championships. McLeod won the 110-meter hurdles while Campbell won the 5,000 meter run at the Jamaican National Championships in Kingston, Jamaica. Morris placed second in the pole vault at the USATF Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Former Razorback Benintendi signs with Boston Red Sox FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Former Arkansas Razorback outfielder Andrew Benintendi has signed a professional baseball contract with the Boston Red Sox. The university says Benintendi signed Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not immediately released. Benintendi was the seventh overall pick in the recent Major League Baseball draft after leading the nation with 20 home runs. He finished the season with a .376 batting average and 57 RBIs. He was name...

Razorback golfer qualifies for LPGA event in Arkansas ROGERS, Ark. (AP) — A University of Arkansas golfer has qualified to play in an LPGA tournament to be played in Rogers. Samantha Marks shot an even part 71 Monday to win the qualifier and earn one of two spots available for the Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship that begins Friday at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. Marks' Razorback teammate Gabriela Lopez is also in the field after receiving a sponsor's exemption and former Razorback Sta...

2 of Arkansas' 4 baseball draftees sign pro contracts FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Two of four Arkansas Razorback baseball players who were selected in the recent Major League Draft have now signed professional contracts. The university announced Monday that pitcher Trey Killian has signed with the Colorado Rockies after being selected in the ninth round of the draft. Killian joins Bobby Wernes in signing pro contracts after Wernes earlier signed with the Houston Astros. Outfielders Andrew Benintend...

Arkansas baseball again in top 2 in nation in attendance FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — The University of Arkansas is ranked in the top two in the nation in average attendance for baseball. This is the fourth consecutive season and the eighth time in nine years the Razorback baseball team ranked in the top two nationally. UA said Monday that an average of 8,290 fans attended each of UA's 33 home games for a total of 273,595 tickets sold during the 2015 season as the Razorbacks advanced to the College Wor...